"Well, there is relief in that." Nicolas began as they started to walk across the vast lawn towards the front gates of the castle. He smiled outwardly; but his mind did not reflect the smile he bore. His mind was plagued with thoughts that moments ago hadn't been there, thoughts that if displayed on his face would not give any impression that he had ever enjoyed himself in his life. Obviously he couldn't allow Cecily to believe such falsehoods and so he smiled on, but thought on with it. He thought of the last time they had been on the lawn together, he thought of what had attacked them and how it was still at large. He hoped it had left; he knew it hadn't. He hoped it wouldn't attack anybody again; he knew it would. These facts convinced him that in time he would have to find the being, or beast, what it was he could not be sure, and deal with it; either by banishing it or slaying it. He didn't know how to find it, but he believed it would find him when the time came and so he smiled on.